Thoughts from the Christian perspective: discernment issues as they relate to the current state of the church and society.

We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer

Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Well, it looks like Liberty University is sliding into politically-correct apostasy; they have “no official position” about Mormonism. How can any Christian not have a position as to whether or not the LDS is a cult?!?

The International House of Prayer in Kansas City preys on Christian youth by their very charismatic and musical productions. IHOP is mostly aberrant and often heretical in their doctrines and teachings. Yvonne over at “...and the world hears them” has posted a video of what looks to me to be demonic manifestations over at IHOP. Stay away from this place and anyone who teaches there.

Speaking of heresy, the Word of Faith teachings definitely fall into that category and there are too many WOF heretics out there to keep up with. “Pastrix” Dayna Muldoon is a new name to me, but she has apparently been around for a while. She finally ran into someone who exposed her publicly and she doesn’t seem to be to happy about it! Now for the background and what happened prior to that video, the pastor exposing her fraud describes everything at CARM’s blog.

The sad thing now is that an excellent Bible teacher, David Jeremiah, has now given these WOF heretics credence by being a guest speaker on TBN’s “Praise-A-Thon” and not only praising heretic Paul Crouch, but telling of his involvement with this heretical organization over the last few years!!!!!

Brian McLaren, in his recent brainwashing “Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity Conference,” warned against Bible passages that supposed are “texts of terror.” He also said that “Bible-preaching/teaching/reading people are the most dangerous in the world for Muslims.” This conference was not only an Emergent forum, but it also appeared to be a haven of liberal “Christians” of every stripe, including apostates and heretics.

Roman Catholics claim to be the one true church, and yet daily we find them supporting things that Christ would have nothing to do with - and this is aside from their aberrant and heretical doctrines! Up in Canada a Catholic elementary school hosted the “transgendered” (read “mutilated”) man who was a contestant for Miss Universe Canada. Okay, to be fair, they hosted all 62 contestants, but since hosting the man was giving tacit approval to his perversion, he should not have been allowed. And aside from hosting this man, the school was promoting the whole idea of girls being “sexy and glamourous” - a message for elementary school girls!!! Yep, I’m sure Christ would approve of this - NOT!

Going back to the subject from last report, about “The Voice” translation of the Bible, Ken Ham points out another problem with this agenda-driven version - the allowance for evolution!

A good article by Erin Benziger was posted at the Christian Research Network, covering the history and teachings of “Spiritual Formation,” which is a false teaching invading the Church over the past few decades.

I’ve previously posted a couple articles about the movie Courageous; one being my own review and the other one highlighting some other critiques. This week I came across another excellent critique which I highly recommend. While this is a good movie, there are many concerns for Christians to be aware of. (Be sure to read the thought-provoking comment discussion).

One of the problems with seeker-sensitive “pastors” is their irreverence for God and Christ. (One of the things which bothers me also about Mark Driscoll.) For a good example of how crass these teachers can get, Ken Silva has posted a video clip of Eric Dykstra. Believe me when I tell you that if I had been in that assembly, I would have stood up and ran out the door!

The blog “Herescope” has been presenting a good series examining some of the various aberrations that come into the Church through the ministry of Chuck Missler. Titled, “Cosms, Codes, and Cryptologies,” there are five articles so far. While lengthy, I do highly recommend them, especially if you are a fan of Missler:

I am one who really dislikes most “contemporary Christian music,” mostly because I really can’t stand the rock and roll music with so much of it. However, when I analyze such songs for proper use in the assembly, I try to stick with examining the lyrics. This past week I discovered a great site which will be very helpful with this, “Worship Song Ratings.” It also has a couple links to examining the music. I recommend it for your perusal.

Finally, I have read several places about supposed “same-sex wedding ceremonies” in the early Christian church. Of course I never gave any of this stuff credence because I’m not that gullible. I came across an excellent article this week to put in your apologetics tool box for responding to this claim. I think you’ll find it well-worth it.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

This story reveals the truth to us that salvation is conditioned upon repentance and faith. However, it contains other important messages also. It declares that salvation is independent of sacraments. The thief had never been baptized, nor had he partaken of the Lord’s Supper. ... He did in fact boldly profess his faith in the presence of a hostile crowd and amid the taunts and jeers of rulers and soldiers, yet he was saved without any formal rites. It is further evident that salvation is independent of good works. ... It is also seen that there is no “sleep of the soul.” The body may sleep, but consciousness exists after death. Again it is evident that there is no “purgatory.” Out of a life of sin and shame, the penitent robber passed immediately into a state of blessedness. Again it may be remarked that salvation is not universal. There were two robbers; only one was saved. Last of all it may be noted that the very essence of the joy which lies beyond death consists in personal communion with Christ. The heart of the promise to the dying thief was this: “Thou shalt be with me.” This is our blessed assurance, that to depart is “to be with Christ” which is “very far better.”

Charles R. Erdman, The Gospel of Luke, pp. 217,218. Cited by William MacDonald in The Believer’s Bible Commentary.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Without biblical discernment, this upcoming generation is "adrift at sea"--heading for a rocky coast and pending shipwreck. As I have had the opportunity to speak with young people throughout the U.S. and around the world, many of whom seem to be biblically knowledgeable, I've found that they are largely ignorant of false teachings, movements, and practices, along with the false teachers who are seducing multitudes of Christians today. ...

When the full counsel of God's Word is not taken to heart and put into practice, there is little basis for spiritual growth. Often the result is an experiential faith, based upon subjective feelings rather than the objective Word of Truth. Such a condition produces a shallow if not false faith and completely eliminates biblical discernment.

T.A. McMahon, “A Generation Adrift,” The Berean Call, May 2012.

When we went to the St. Louis Conference on Biblical Discernment in April, we took two high school seniors with us. They were astonished at all the false teachings they learned about, having never previously heard of such things. This is why our youth can be so easily capture by false teachings - because they are not warned about it in their church assembly! Which is why the heretical IHOP organization can recruit youth by the scores.

Just remember that cults aren’t the only danger, and in fact are not near the danger to those in the Church as are the false teachings by those within the Church. Aside from IHOP, how many know about Word of Faith and its teachers? How many know about the Emergent heresy? What about the many subtle false teachers, such as Beth Moore and others I’ve noted on this blog? What about psychology in the Church, yoga in the Church or Tae Kwon Do in the Church - all of which are compromising the faith? We need to teach the errors of “seeker-sensitive” and “market-driven” movements, theistic evolutionism, aberrant “spiritual warfare,” Dominion theology, the social gospel, and on and on and on - all coming from INSIDE the Church!

Parents and youth ministries need to expose our young people to what errors are out there, and demonstrate the errors biblically so as to provide them with a defense against the wiles of Satan.

Roman Catholics really need to clean up their house. Here’s another example of Romanists supporting all that is unholy: Catholics in Media, a group which purports to recognize movies and television shows that “[make] clearer the Word of God” and “help us better understand what it is to be part of the human family,” has given an award to “Modern Family,” a sitcom with a homosexual couple. The show is anything BUT a proper “human family,” and surely denigrates the Word of God. Why has the Pope not condemned this group?

As I have stated before, Mark Driscoll is not qualified to be a pastor. This article examines his attitude towards those taking a doctrinal stance on teaching. Yeah, Driscoll’s cool - a cool wolf.

Rick Warren’s Saddleback church keeps proving how far they keep going from orthodoxy. Believe it or not, their men’s group studied heretic Joyce Meyer’s horrid teaching in her book, “Battlefield of the Mind.” This book is rife with false teaching! What is any Christian group, let a lone a men’s group, doing studying this false teacher’s material?!?

More on T.D. Jakes, and whether or not he is truly a false teaching heretic. I’d say anyone who praises Paul Crouch for anything has absolutely NO discernment. Jakes is solidly in the Word of Faith crowd.

The book, “Pagan Christianity,” by Gene Edwards and Frank Viola, has certainly caused a lot of division in the church. A friend of mine swears by that book, and is part of a home church built on ideas from it. I had never read the book until this friend kept telling me how great some of the teachings were - which I told him were wrong - so I finally went out and bought the book and read it last year. I came across a site this week which really dissects this book, demonstrating all the errors and historical revisionism. I highly recommend visiting “Pagan Christianity?” and perusing the articles. Aside from addressing that book, it also has a good review on the heretical book, “The Shack,” as well as an article on Viola in general.

More information about “The Voice” translation of the Bible. I guess I’m a bit behind on this version, although I mentioned some reviews in a previous “Random” post in April. This week I came across this article by Lighthouse Trails Research demonstrating the “translation” is indeed no more than a prop for the Emergent church. Don’t waste your money on it.

Erin has more about heretic Shane Hipps at Willow Creek. The fact that Willow Creek would even invite him to speak demonstrates the lack of discernment in the leadership. Reading what Erin has to say about Hipps explains why it was unconscionable for Willow Creek leadership to have him speak there.

I came across this interesting article about why gender really matters in Christian counseling. This is certainly something which should be considered by all Christians.

Finally, I was really amused by this article about Hindus wanting to take yoga back. There are way too many “Christian Yoga” classes going on. Ladies and gentlemen, yoga is a blatant Hindu practice and cannot in any way, shape or form be “Christianized.” If you have been practicing this, leave it immediately.

9. Emphasize God’s Gospel of Grace. Paint a dark picture of what they “need” for salvation and then provide the light of the Gospel. e.g. LDS “be ye perfect” - a rope to heaven; how far could you get? Joseph Fielding Smith said we must be better today than yesterday!

To every one who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the law of heaven.... God requires of us perfect obedience. We are to purify ourselves, even as he is pure.(The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 9/27/1906, p.8)

Does Scripture say that we are able to cease from sin? NO! Does being redeemed mean that we cease from sin? NO! In fact, 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Paul talked about how he did the things he didn’t want to do and didn’t do the things he wanted to do (Romans 7). Can we attain “perfect obedience”? NO! 2 Corinthians 7:1 says we are to “strive to be completely holy,” not that we will ever attain it this side of heaven.

For White to claim sinlessness she must directly contradict Scripture. Scripture doesn’t say we will cease sinning or that we will be able to perfectly obey God this side of heaven. What it does say is that God forgives us and “remembers our sin no more.”

It is a heretical works-oriented system that keeps its followers in such impossible bondage.

Friday, May 4, 2012

It’s that time again to expose the stuff I’ve found in the news since my last Random post. Sometimes this stuff can really be discouraging and frustrating to learn, but someone has to expose these false teachers and false teachings for what they are so as to warn the sheep to keep away from wolves.

Steve Harvey was a new name to me, but since he appeared on TBN it is obvious where his theology lies. At any rate, he as a written a book where he gives a “90 day rule” - i.e., date for 90 days before fornicating. After all, people are going to fornicate so it is unreasonable to ask them to wait for marriage, but it isn’t unreasonable to ask them to get to know each other a bit better. Heretic Paula White agreed with him (what do you expect from a heretic?). On thing I take issue with in this article is that the author calls TBN “Christian” television. Sorry, but that station doesn’t have anyone who preaches the truth about Christ; it is a station of blatant heresy. Otherwise, the examination of this fornication teaching is excellent.

I really can’t understand the Roman Catholic Church’s love affair with the false belief system of evolutionism. Their latest foray into this nonsense is the official Bible used in Latin American countries, which promotes evolutionism in Genesis! What is evolutionism doing in a Bible to begin with, except for that fact it helps promotes Satan’s agenda. Ken Ham has a good article about the situation.

Hank Hanegraaff seems to be going farther and farther into left field. Previously he has gone easy on Roman Catholicism, then he defended the Local Church, now he is promoting Occupy Wall Street - In Tehran of all places? Does this mean he’s beginning to support the social gospel? This blog has a good article about the situation, with links for fuller information. The problem is that there is no direct link to articles on this blog, so you need to go to April 24th, but it’s worth the read.

More problems with “gay marriage” being given at least tacit support by so-called Christians. Look what has taken place recently at a conference on “sexuality and covenant” with some things stated about marriage. More sliding to apostasy.

Going along with the promotion of same-sex fake marriage by apostate churches, we have news that the Episcopal Church has released a draft of same-sex union rites! Well, I have reported many times in the past about this apostate denomination, but this just demonstrates how far they are descending into the pit.

And another concern in this area is Andy Stanley’s latest comments, reported on by Albert Mohler and Denny Burke. It sure seems that Stanley becoming favorable towards acceptance of homosexual behavior. It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Rather than properly teach youth about the Gospel and everything else in the Bible, along with teaching them how it should affect their worldview, it seems too many assemblies today are more interested in spiritual junk food. An Assemblies of God church has gone way overboard and staged a kidnapping, ostensibly so the youth would know what persecution is like. The teen did NOT know it wasn’t a real kidnapping and suffered emotional trauma and some injury. This is a youth pastor who should be fired.

Steve Munsey is another false teacher I’ve seen for the first time. Here is his preaching about the Resurrection - or at least I think that’s what it is supposed to be. I see his congregation is full of people who are more interested in gimmicks and feel-goodism than they are about the Word of God.

Willow Creek was on the cutting edge of the unbiblical idea of “market-driven” mentality - one of the original “seeker-sensitive” churches. Over the years the continually have demonstrated that sticking to truth and doctrinal standards is something they don’t choose to do. Remember, this assembly has allowed Imams to teach from the pulpit, to prove that Islam is a peaceful, God-fearing religion similar to Christianity. More recently, Bill Hybels, their leader, has stepped all over himself to prove they are not “anti-gay” (whatever that is supposed to mean) as he severed Willow Creek’s relationship with Exodus International. Now he’s putting a rank heretic in the pulpit - Shane Hipps. When you start pandering to the world to draw in your audience, anything goes.

Meanwhile, homosexual advocate Tony Campolo is at it again in his support for those pressing the United Methodist Church to accept same-sex fake marriage. But not only does he praise them, but he also goes into some of his usual promotion of the social gospel as well as usual complaints, such as attacking the Roman Catholic Church for not allowing women priests. The man is a bonafide heretic, and the sheep should be warned to keep away from this wolf and his teachings.

Finally, Erin reports on a “worship” song which is really weird and unbiblical, regardless of the nuances the author claims are really there. To me, it sounds much like another “Jesus is my boyfriend” story.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

I’m just beginning to type up the notes I took at the St. Louis Conference on Biblical Discernment, which was held April 19-21. I have decided to post them as I finish them. This is the first workshop class we attended.

IHOP notes from Keith Gibson’s class at PFO 2012

Young people are IHOP’s main targets.

The person leaving orthodoxy has left the Church and is the divisive one.

b. Bridal Paradigm: Lovesick Jesus. Song of Solomon allegory of Christ and the Church is literalized for the individual Christian. Yet Christ is the Bride of the Church vs the individual believer. Forces men to worship in a feminized way. “Boyfriend Jesus.” The “Call” includes marriage ceremonies to Jesus. Shawn Bolz is IHOPer

c. Man centered

d. No doctrine of sin.

e. Fallible prophets. 1/3 of prophecies by God can be false.

f. Spiritual mapping/SLSW

g. Elected Seed. New Breed. Uniqueness of final generation.

h. Prophetic healing (?)(couldn’t read writing)

i. Contemplative prayer

j. Revisionist history - editing their prophecies.

4. Lack of balance. Virtually no N.T. teachings. Ignoring Biblical norms: Many claim to be “caught up to heaven,” with 3rd heaven visitations.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

This past week I was asked by a reader to engage in a comment string about Mormonism on an internet news source. The topic was Mitt Romney’s presidential bid, and how the LDS is not a Christian church. Two atheists decided to join in condemning any attempt by Christians to stand firm for the true faith, and then kept bringing in all sorts of red herrings about Christianity (their view of it) in general. Staying on topic seemed to be quite difficult for them, as they kept wanting to discuss homosexuality - which I refused to do; I made absolutely no comment about the subject.

At one point I provided a link to a video about Joel Osteen’s claim of the LDS being Christian, because the point of the video was about how apologists have to work much harder when heretics like Osteen open their mouths about that which they have no clue. Rather than take away from the video what was intended by the ministry which made it, the atheists wanted to know how we could say Joel Osteen wasn’t a Christian. Rather than stay off topic, I just said they could visit my blog to learn more about Osteen.

Anyway, after I felt I provided as much information about the differences between LDS and Christianity, I left the conversation because it was time-consuming and going nowhere. However, when I checked back to make sure my departing comment was posted, there were two comments about me and this blog which I found interesting.

The first comment included this:“I decided to have a look at Jude's blog [ref my e-mail address as identity] after all, to see if my initial impression of his negative attitude to LGBT people was well placed.”

Since I had made no comment whatsoever about “LGBT people” on the comment string, I was somewhat taken aback by his claim that I had a “negative attitude” about the subject - how does one get an “impression” about someone’s beliefs when those beliefs have never been discussed?

The comment continued thus: “Sad to say his attitude is extremely negative. He speaks of LGBT people in very degrading and derisory terms which only goes to confirm that he is incapable of discussion with those who don't share his views without resorting to insult and rudeness.”

WOW! Is he reading THIS blog?

What have I actually stated about “LGBT people”? Nothing. What have I said about homosexuality on this blog? Well, I have demonstrated proper exegesis of the biblical passages dealing with homosexuality and have called it a sin. I have demonstrated that there is a difference between “orientation” (maybe not chosen) and “behavior” (always chosen). I have stated that homosexual behavior cannot be condoned by Christians, and those churches who do so are apostatizing. I have said that the “homosexual Christian” movement is much like a cult in the way they completely re-interpret scripture to support their theology. And I expose and condemn so-called Christian leaders giving approval to homosexual behavior.

I challenge anyone to find on this blog where I speak of these people in “very degrading and derisory terms,” let alone where I have demonstrated the inability to have discussions “without resorting to insult and rudeness.”

As disconcerting as this comment was in its blatant fabrication, the other comment amused me greatly. Here’s what was said:

“I just wonder who appointed Jude to his status as a "Proud member of the International Order of Heresy Hunters". Really isn't there something better you could be doing, Jude? Like taking care of the oppressed and marginalised rather than setting yourself up as a modern day member of the Inquisition? strange stuff indeed....”

What he is referring to, of course, is the statement under my photo on the right side of the blog. Apparently the commenter has no understanding of sarcasm.

For those not in the loop, apologists are often labeled “heresy hunters” by false teachers, especially false teachers in the Word of Faith heresy. After all, how dare anyone expose their heretical teachings! To counter this claim, many years ago Robert Liichow (an ex-WOF follower, now LCMS pastor) came up with a gimmick. For a small “membership fee” he sent out a certificate, such as this one which hangs on the wall of my library:

Along with the certificate comes a stack of “Heresy Hunter Cards,” fixed up like trading cards. On the front side it will say if it is from the “Televangelist Series” or the “Fake Healer Series,” along with the photo and name of a known heretic. The reverse side has the word “HERETICS” across the top, followed by a copy of the picture from the lower right of the certificate, and underneath that it says, “Stake’m And Bake’m.”

Ladies and gentlemen, it is called “humor”! We really aren’t holding any inquisitions, and aren’t really burning anyone!

What I really find interesting in these comments, as well as the whole string, was that these atheists were making moral judgments. By what standard were they making such judgments if they have no God as their foundation? What makes them consider themselves authorities on what is right or wrong if there is no moral standard?

Let me sum up by saying that I really do not discuss homosexuality on this blog other than as noted above. Those who practice immoral sexual behavior are sinners in need of a savior, sinners who have been deceived by Satan into believing that what they are doing is right and proper.

Nor do I have to hunt heresy - it’s everywhere!!!! The best apologists can do is fight it off by exposing it for what it is - more deception by Satan.